Energy Balance, Productivity and Resource-Use Efficiency of Diverse Sustainable Intensification Options of Rainfed Lowland Rice Systems under Different Fertility Scenarios

Teekam Singh, Ram Swaroop Bana, Bhabani Sankar Satapathy, Banwari Lal, Akshay Kumar Yogi and Raj Singh
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Teekam Singh: Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
Ram Swaroop Bana: Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
Bhabani Sankar Satapathy: Regional Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Station, Gerua, Kamrup 781102, India
Banwari Lal: Regional Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Station, Gerua, Kamrup 781102, India
Akshay Kumar Yogi: Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
Raj Singh: Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: Rice-based cropping systems (RBCS) are a kingpin of global food security and rice fallow is one of the largest (>14 m ha) RBCS. A three-year study was carried out to develop sustainable intensification options and efficient nutrient management protocols of RBCS with greater water and energy productivity and more profits. Rice-lentil, rice-linseed and rice-rapeseed systems were tested in a split-plot design with nutrient management practices involving fertilizer levels (50%, 75% and 100% recommended fertilizer dose; RDF), green manuring with Sesbania (SGM) and rice residue incorporation (RRI). The results indicated that SGM produced significantly better rice productivity, enhanced 6.4–22.7% yield of succeeding crops and increased profits by ~20%. Application of 75 or 100% of RDF produced 24.5–30.3% higher grain yield of rabi crops. System intensification resulted in an additional rice equivalent yield (REY) of ~1–1.6 t ha −1 . SGM consumed relatively more energy (76,793 MJ ha −1 ) but at the same time, resulted in higher energy output (182,657 MJ ha −1 ), net energy (105,864 MJ ha −1 ), energy intensity (1.68 MJ INR −1 ) and human energy profitability (787) than the RRI. However, RRI recorded a higher energy ratio (2.42), energy productivity (0.082 kg MJ −1 ) and energy profitability (1.42 kg MJ −1 ). The rice-linseed cropping system resulted in greater system productivity, higher energy output (186,305 MJ ha −1 ) and net energy (112,029 MJ ha −1 ) than other systems. Overall, considering energy productivity, resource-use efficiency and profits, a rice-linseed system coupled with SGM and 75% RDF may be recommended as a sustainable intensification option in RBCS.

Keywords: energy efficiency; rice fallows; sustainable intensification; water productivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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